Weekend Rewind! Goodguys 26th LMC Truck Southeastern Nationals
Goodguys has been itching to deliver some Southern-style Good Times to hot rodders and car enthusiasts in the Southeast U.S. for several years now, and this weekend we delivered! We cruised down to Georgia to host the 26th LMC Truck Southeastern Nationals at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. This renewed and revitalized event brought an incredible assortment of hot rods, cool customs, muscle cars, vintage trucks, classics, and more out for two days of fun in the sun and laid a firm foundation for Goodguys gatherings to continue in Georgia in the years to come.
Located in the heart of the state in the city of Perry, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter has all the elements you want for hosting a car show. There’s lots of space, plenty of grass and trees, some scenic ponds, and well-placed lanes for cruising. There are also several buildings ideal for hosting indoor car and vendor displays, plus an on-site hotel that’s perfect for traveling participants. Simply put, it’s a wonderful place to plant some Goodguys roots.
Southeastern hot rodders seemed to agree with this assessment, as they showed up in strong numbers to enjoy the weekend. Sunny skies and warm weather reminded everyone that we’re on the cusp of summer, but a little heat couldn’t keep the diehard hot rodders away. And with indoor car show displays to check out and lots of cool refreshments available, there were plenty of ways to keep cool when needed.
We were impressed with the number of hot rod builders and shops that showed up to display their latest creations, some from as far as Michigan and New Jersey! Among those were Will Posey and his team from Big Oak Garage, who also had the honor of selecting the Builder’s Choice Top 10 awards for this event. Will has wide-ranging tastes, which are reflected in his choices. All the winners shared some common characteristics, though, like clean style and exceptional workmanship.
The Goodguys team had a full slate of awards to select, too. Among those were finalists for six regional Top 12 Awards presented by BASF. Those included: Brian Sumurld’s ’52 Chevy as the LMC Truck of the Year Early finalist; Thomas Dickerson’s ’67 Chevy as the Dakota Digital Truck of the Year Late finalist; the ’77 GMC belonging to Chris Collins as the Roadster Shop 4×4 of the Year finalist; Thom Ophof’s ’38 Lincoln Zephyr as the Scott’s Hotrods ’N Customs Custom of the Year finalist; Thom Ophof’s ’55 Chevy as the Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year finalist; and Mark Reece’s ’68 Camaro as the Snap-on Muscle Car of the Year finalist. The Goodguys media team selected Chuck Reich’s ’62 Impala as the Goodguys Feature Pick, and Joe Guillaume’s ’67 Jeepster for the Fuel Curve Pick.
In addition to builders and shops, there were many top-name manufacturers and vendors showing their wares at the event, both inside and out. This was in addition to the sizeable swap meet on the southern portion of the facility, and the large Goodgals Gallery inside. Add in the Auto World Store Make N Take program, live music, the Saturday Specialty Parking Areas, and more attractions, and you had a Goodguys weekend chock full of activities to keep gearheads busy.
Yes, we had a peach of a time in the Peach State this weekend, and so did all the great folks who showed up to participate in this revitalized event. We’re looking forward to more Good Times in Georgia in the future, but until then, we hope you’ll enjoy some of these sights and scenes from this year’s gathering.
